Storage device



Nov. 28, 1967 lll STORAGE DEVICE D. J. VERCELLOTTI Filed Dec. 17, 1965 United States Patent Ill.

Filed Dec. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 514,567 9 Claims. (Cl. 211-134) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A storage device made of exible mesh material secured along two longitudinal edges to overhead supports such as the oor joists above a basement, with the ilexible material hanging in curved form therefrom.

This invention relates t-o a storage device, and more particularly to a storage device for attachment to the joists of a building as in a basement.

Many years ago it was customary to build houses with substantial amounts of storage space. Not only were large numbers of more or less conventional closets provided, but it was common practice to provide pantries and storage closets in addition to those used for clothes. For reasons of economy, for reasons of quickness in building, for reasons of trends in architecture, etc., most new houses built within the last fifteen to twenty years have been deficient in storage space. Once a house has been built it is diicult or impossible to add storage space by way of extra closets and the like. Fortunately, there has been a trend away from the basement-less homes of some years ago. However, basements are not too well suited for many types of storage, both because the concrete tioors and wall tend to be slightly damp, and because basements generally are not partitioned into rooms, and the poured concrete walls are extremely difficult for attaching anything thereto, such as shelves.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a storage device for attachment to the open joists of a basement, thereby using waste space, yand staying away from damp areas.

lt further is an object of this invention to provide a flexible storage device for attachment to the undersides of basement floor joists which is readily adapted to accommodating to joists of varying spacing.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a basement storage device which, while open, tends to avoid accumulation of dust.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: f

FIG. l is a perspective view from below, showing a device in accordance with the present invention as attached to the lloor joists exposed at the top of a basement;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the storage device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View on an enlarged scale as taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the storage device with the joists shown in cross section;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view showing a modification of the invention, as installed; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line 6 6 in FIG. 5.

Turning now to the figures in greater particularity, and rst to FIGS. 1 4, there will be seen a pair of joists 10 of conventional design and spacing and with tloor boards 12 secured to the top thereof, and generally to be understood as forming the first oor of a house or the like.

Such joists are usually on sixteen-inch centers, and may be 2 x lOs -or 2 x 12s, or something else, depending on the individual requirements. Furthermore, the spacing may not be exactly on sixteen-inch centers, and indeed may vary quite markedly from this, being less in areas of stress or adjacent to the ends of the basement, or perhaps more with tongue-in-groove planking for an overlying floor or deck. In older house construction, particularly in houses built before the adoption of presentday standards, these centers may vary quite widely from one house to another, often being as little as a foot or less, and at other times being as much as two feet.

A storage device 1.4, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a rectangular section of more or less flexible fenestrated material 16, such as expanded metal or screen wire. The material 16 is formed into a generally semicylindrical shape and is welded or otherwise suitably secured at its longitudinal edges 18 to angle irons 20. The angle irons have rather short, dependent flanges 22, and relatively wide horizontal flanges 24, the latter being provided with longitudinally spaced holes 26 for receipt of fastening devices such as screws or nails "28. For greatest stability, and for convenience in aligning the angle irons 20 with the bottom of joists, the width of each ange 24- plus the thickness of the associated depending flange 22 is exactly the same as the width of a standard two-inch joist, namely, about one and threequarter inches.

The flexible nature of the material from which the storage device is made renders it a simple matter to accommodate the device to different joist spacings, there being a greater or lesser dependence of the storage device according to the joist spacing. Obviously, it is a simple matter to nail or screw the device to the bottom of th-e joist, and the width of the angle irons aids in properly aligning the angle irons with the joists. Materials are readily placed onto the storage device from either end thereof, and the sag or dependence of the device makes it unnecessary to reach all the way up between the joists. Nevertheless, the full height of the joist can be used for storage as well as the depending height of the storage device. Since both ends of the storage device are open, objects which are longer than the storage device can be readily stored. The fenestration of the material militates against the collection of large quantities of dust which would fall down in the face of a user upon removal of stored material from this storage device. Furthermore, the fenestrated nature of the material makes it possible at least in part to look up through the material to ascertain which items are stored in any particular storage dcvice.

Since the storage devices are secured to the underside of the joist, they are up out or the way in what would otherwise be wasted space. It will be observed that this particular location is also the driest location in a basement, since it is away from concrete oors and walls, and since relatively warm, dry air will rise to the top of the basement. Accordingly, no moisture damage to stored items is to be anticipated.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention as heretofore shown as described, permanent mounting of the storage device is anticipated. In some instances it may be desirable to take the storage device down temporarily. For example, rather long pipes can be stored With two such storage devices at spaced-apart locations. However, if pipes are long enough, they simply cannot be slid into position onto the storage devices. Accordingly, it is contemplated that one storage device might readily be made removable, so that pipes might be lifted into place on one end, and then the storage device slipped in therebeneath. Reference to pipes herein does not necessarily imply limitation to pipes, but any long objects, including lumber, flagpoles, curtain or drapery rods, etc. The storage device in FIGS. 5 and 6 is generally similar to that heretofore described, and similar parts are identified by similar numerals. Thus, the storage device is shown at 14a and includes flexible fenestrated material 16a in a semicylindrical shape, again preferably comprising screen wire or expanded metal. Rather than having channel irons secured to the edges thereof, the longitudinal edge portions 18a of the fenestrated material are welded on top of flat strap members 20a, spot welding being sufficient.

In the present embodiment of the invention the storage device is mounted by means of channels 30. Each channel includes an upper flange 32 secured to the bottom of a corresponding joist 10 by means such as wood screws 28a passing through suitable apertures 26a therein. Preferably the holes 26a are bevelled as shown for the receipt of flathead screws. Each channel further includes a narrow bight 34 and a lower horizontal flange 36 parallel to the flange 32 and spaced therebelow a suflcient distance slidingly to receive the flat strap 20a and edge portion 18a of the fenestrated material. Finally, each lower flange 36 has an upturned lip 38, having an internal height equal to the thickness of a strap 20a. As will be seen, the lower flanges 36 are provided with enlarged clearance holes 40 for passing the screws 28a for installation of the channels. It further will be observed that the channels are of the same overall width as the thickness of joist 10 for aid in positioning the channels.

In order to mount the embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 5 and 6, the two channels 30 are first mounted in confronting relation on adjacent joists. The screws 28a readily pass up through the clearance holes 40 and into the screw holes 26a as the screws are turned down in the joists. The straps 20a and accompanying edge portions 18a of the fenestrated material then are readily slid into the channels from corresponding ends thereof. As will be apparent the upstanding lips 38 interlock with the straps 20a to hold against edgewise withdrawal of the storage device from the channels. This greatly facilitates storage of long items through permitting'removal of a storage device temporarily. It also allows storage devices to be moved around to the most desirable locations without difficulty. Meanwhile, all of the advantages of the first embodiment of the invention are retained.

The specific examples of the invention are given by way of illustration. Various changes thereof will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art and will be understood as forming a part of the present invention insofar as they follow in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The term sheet material as hereinafter used in the claims will be understood as covering fenestrated material such as expanded sheet metal or screen wire, and various structural equivalents thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage device for use in a building having overhead support means such as exposed joists spaced apart a predetermined distance, comprising a sheet of flexible material having a pair of longitudinal edges spaced greater than said predetermined distance, elongated reinforcing means secured to said longitudinal edges, and means on said elongated reinforcing means adapting said storage device for attachment to said overhead support means with said longitudinal edges brought toward one another and spaced substantially said predetermined distance with said flexible material depending therefrom in curved form.

2. A storage device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the elongated reinforcing means comprise angle members.

3. A storage device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet material is fenestrated.

4. A storage device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the fenestrated material comprises expanded sheet metal.

5. A storage -device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the fenestrated material comprises screen material.

6. A storage device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the elongated reinforcing means comprises angle members.

7. A storage device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises means substantially adapted to be permanently fixed to an overhead support means, and wherein the elongated reinforcing means detachably interflts with said attachment means.

8. A storage device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said attachment means comprise confronting channels opening toward one another and having restricted openings, and wherein said elongated reinforcing means comprise strap-like members too thick to pass through said openings with said flexible sheet material, but capable of longitudinal sliding movement in and out of said channels.

9. A storage device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said joists are of predetermined thickness, and wherein each elongated reinforcing means has the same width as said predetermined thickness, to aid in aligning said reinforcing means with a joist.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,960 10/1916 Hanson 312-213 1,566,551 12/ 1925 Ghrand 108-111 2,057,544 10/1936 Stratton 312-297 2,564,523 8/1951 Ellis 5-318 2,607,518 8/1952 Cohen 312-245 JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STORAGE DEVICE FOR USE IN A BUILDING HAVING OVERHEAD SUPPORT MEANS SUCH AS EXPOSED JOISTS SPACED APART A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, COMPRISING A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL EDGES SPACED GREATER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, ELONGATED REINFORCING MEANS SECURED TO SAID LONGITUDINAL EDGES, AND MEANS ON SAID ELONGATED REINFORCING MEANS ADAPTING SAID STORAGE DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID OVERHEAD SUPPORT MEANS WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL EDGES BROUGHT TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE WITH SAID FLEXIBLE MATERIAL DEPENDING THEREFROM IN CURVED FORM. 